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The man behind the scheme, who engineered a plan to distribute hard-to-detect performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes such as baseball icons Giambi and Bonds and sprinting gold medalist Jones in the past, has died. He was 75.

Federal Investigation and Convictions

A national investigation into an additional venture set up by him, the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (Balco), led to the convictions of Marion Jones, top track cyclist Thomas, and ex-pro football defender Stubblefield, as well as various support personnel and professionals.

Conte's Admissions and Sentencing

Conte, who served four months in federal prison for dealing steroids, spoke openly about his high-profile athletes. He appeared on television to state he had witnessed three-time Olympic medalist Marion Jones inject herself with growth hormones, but consistently avoided incriminating Barry Bonds, the baseball star.

Sport's Official Review

This probe inspired the volume Game of Shadows. Just days following the publication date in 2006, the sport's chief Bud Selig appointed political figure Mitchell to examine doping in baseball.

He admitted he distributed steroids called “the cream” and “the clear” and coached on their use to numerous top performers, like Jason Giambi, a five-time major league All-Star, the Mitchell report said.

Using PEDs represents a major risk to the fairness of the competition,” the findings emphasized. “Prevalent consumption by competitors of these compounds puts at a disadvantage the those who refuse to cheat who avoid them and creates doubts about the legitimacy of sporting achievements.”

The report noted the challenges took time to emerge. He said all parties in baseball in the prior two decades – encompassing commissioners, team executives, the players’ association and players – were partly accountable for what he called the doping period.

Case Inception

The federal investigation into the company was initiated by a revenue officer digging through the company’s trash. He ultimately admitted guilt to a pair of the numerous counts filed against him in the mid-2000s ahead of a court case. Six of the defendants sentenced were caught misleading the court.

Related Cases

Bonds’ personal trainer Greg Anderson, admitted guilt to drug dealing counts linked to his involvement with Balco. He received a sentence to three months in jail and the same duration of home confinement.

Bonds' Legal Battles

Bonds was charged with lying to a grand jury about obtaining banned substances and faced a trial in 2011. Prosecutors dropped the charges after several years when the authorities chose not to contest an overturned ruling to the federal apex court.

A multiple MVP winner and frequent All-Star, Bonds concluded his playing days after the 2007 campaign with 762 homers, surpassing the milestone of that number that Aaron achieved from his career. The athlete refuted consciously consuming banned substances but has not been voted to the sport's hall of honor.

Conte's Post-Prison Life

He told the Associated Press in a past conversation that “yes, athletes cheat to triumph, but the government agents and prosecutors also bend the rules.” He wondered whether the conclusions in such proceedings merited the work.

After serving his sentence, Conte resumed operations in that year by resuscitating a health products venture he had launched previously called his supplements brand. He operated in the identical location that was home to the original company in Burlingame.

Unapologetic Views

The controversial figure continued to justify about his key part in distributing custom PEDs to top sports stars. He maintained he simply helped “balance the odds” in a arena teeming with doping athletes.

Outside Views

To a WADA member, a former participant of the World Anti-Doping Agency, he could be compared to distributing cocaine or heroin. “This involves unlawful substance distribution. This refers to substance use in defiance of legal codes,” Wadler said in the past. “This is not philanthropy and it's not altruistic. It's illegal sales.”